Artists Satement: Though borders continue to divide immigrant families we wanted to create an image that highlights the unbreakable love and bravery that holds migrant families together before and after their arrival to the US. Our migration is natural. It is an ancient 4-billion year old magic that descended from birds and pterodactyls. It is unstoppable by all borders or legislation. We are here to stay.

Jess X Snow @jessxsnow + Roger Peet @toosphexy

Justseeds Artist Co-operative

Artist Bios:

Jess X. Snow is a queer Asian-American artist, filmmaker and poet who grew up in a dozen cities between Canada and China before migrating to the US at the age of 7 with her mother. After the splitting of her parents, she developed a stutter which she overcame through her discovery of art, poetry and film. Her artwork has appeared in the The LA Times, NBC Asian America, The Huffington Post, PBS, The UN Human Rights Council and on indoor and outdoor walls in Manhattan and throughout the US. Her films have screened at the NY Asian American International Film Festival and the New York Times. Her poetry has taken her to stages such as TEDx CUNY, the US Institute for Peace, backyards, universities and rooftops nation wide, and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and the anthologies: Best of the Net and Bettering American Poetry. She is a member of the Justseeds Artists Co-operative and a teaching artist who has worked with previously incarcerated families, migrant and indigenous youth communities to speak their truth and transcend trauma with art. She holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and participated in the Visual Communications: Armed With a Camera Fellowship. She recently wrote and provided creative direction for Migration Is Natural, a short animation with Adobe Project 1324, that has garnered over half a million views. Through film, mural-making, poetry and youth art education, she is working toward a future where migrant and indigenous youth of color see themselves whole and heroic, on the big screen and the city walls & then grow up to create their own.

Roger Peet is an artist, printmaker, muralist etc. etc. living in Portland, Oregon. His work tends to focus on civilized bad ideas, predator-prey relationships, and the contemporary crisis of biodiversity and what can and can't be done about it. He coordinates the Endangered Species Mural Project, and helps to run the cooperative Flight 64 print studio in Portland. He collaborates with artists, activists and scientists globally and locally in the service of a more generous and a wilder world.

Galería Statement on work:

In the wake of the current Presidential administration, Galería commissioned Snow’s work in May of 2017. Our goal with this piece was to offer a counter narrative to the anti-immigrant rhetoric that was brewing and to acknowledge their plight and humanity. Four months later, the “To Immigrants with Love” image is ever eminent as we resist the administration’s decision to rescind DACA. Upon hearing the news, we reached out to Snow to see if there was an additional message she wanted on the artwork. She replied with the words “#DEFEND DACA”. Furthermore, Galería added, “We stand with you”, to show our support and commitment to our immigrant communities. We see this action as an attack on the 800,000 young adults who dreamed of a better future and also as an attack on the 11 million undocumented individuals and families. Galería stands firmly with our immigrant communities and we look to them for leadership on the next steps!

Migration is natural. It is an ancient magic that descended from birds and pterodactyls. It has been happening since the first signs of life on mother Earth. Though borders continue to divide immigrant families and generations, we wanted to create an image that highlights the unbreakable love and bravery that holds migrant families together before and after their arrival to the US. They gather in front of a torch of liberty. Despite the anti-immigrant rhetoric, Muslim refugee ban and injustices of this nation, many people around the world always associated the US as a place where anything is possible--where you can become whoever you want. That vision is one of many that continues to drives migration to this country. We believe this country should challenge itself to live up to that vision while remaining accountable to the terrible damage it has done and the communities it has marginalized.